The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-05
The Sunday School.
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10, 1887.
BY REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
GODS COVENANT WITH ABRAM.
IGenesis XIV. 3-1S.]
The PROMISE RENEWED.

- The PROMISE RENEWED.
After Lot had departed toward sodom'
Abraham received renewal OF the DIVINE
promise that he and his posterity should pos
sess the whole of the land in which he dwelt. 1t
vould thus appear that the choice OF Lot and
bis possession of apparently the best portion
of the country, in no way affected the DIVINE
nromise. and, indeed, that the separation
was in accordance with the Divine purpose,
that He himself was to be the father OF the
holy nation that should possess Canaan, IN
which Lot should have no part or inheritance.
"JEHovAH said unto him." that is, revealed
to his inward consciousness, that all the lana
which he could see looking toward the north,
WHARF were the mountains of Lebanon, and
toward the south to the boundaries OF Egypt,
md toward the east to the River Jordan, and
toward the west to the Mediterranean Sea,
sbonld be the inheritance of his posterlty
foraver. which should become as innumera-
ble "a the dust of the earth. From the high
lands near Bethel, where Abraham encamped,
the whole of Canaan might almost literally
have thus been viewed, the extent OF the
countrv is so comparatively small. The
whole length of the country, from north to
south. is about 100 miles, and the average
breadth from the river to the sea, Is mucn
less than fifty miles. Abraham was directed
by COP [Divinely impressed to pass through
the country in every direction, with the as
surance that he was the father OF its future
possessors. He promptly obeyed the Divine
direction, journeying [''tenting' toward the
south, till he came to the grove of Mamre,
Canaanite friend of his, near the city which
was afterward called Hebron, with which are
connected many interesting circumstances
of Hebrew history. Here he seems to have
made permanent settlement, or established
a central encampment, from which his subse-
quent journeys through the land radlated'
Here, also, he erected the third altar OF wor-
ship. Everywhere, true to his mission, he
consecrated himself to Divine worship and
righteousness.
The kingdoms on the east and north of
Canaan were composed of strong and pow
erful tribes. After Abraham had lived few
years at Hebron, some of these united in
marauding expedition against the cities of
the Plain-which had formerly been tribu-
was leader of the foray, but had renounced
their allegiance and were successful in
plundering the cities and taking captive
many of the inhabitants, including Lot, his
family and his possessions. Abraham,
when he was informed of this calamity which
had overtaken his relative, organized an ex-
petition of his own trained armed servants,
and those of his neighbor Mamre and his
brothers, and went in pursuit of the marau-
ders, whom he overlook, surprised by night
attack and routed, and recaptured the prls-
oners and plumber. Returning he was met
by the king of Sodom, who requested that
he should restore the prisoners and retain
the plumber for his friendly and valiant ser
yice,-and Melchizedek, king of Salem, a
priest of the Most High GoD, who brought
supplies of bread and wine for the exhausted
warriors, and pronounced a blessing upon
Abraham, servant of the Supreme GoD
who made heaven and earth, and upon GOD
who had given him the victory over their en-
emies. Abraham gave tenth of the spoils
his had taken to the priest, as the expression
of his gratitude and acknowledgement of the
Divine favor. He declined to retain for
himself the smallest or most worthless thing
of the spoils belonging to the king OF Sodom.
He had not gone to war for plumber, but to
rescue his relative, Lot, and to recover bis
property. He shows himself to be still the
great hearted man of faith, that was revealed
in the separation, when Lot chose to dwell
among the wicked cities of the Plain. Firm
ly maintaining his faith in GoD who had led
him forth and given him the victory, he is
dignified and self-respecting.
% But change seems to have come over
his feelings when he had returned to his
peaceful encampment in the grove of Mamre,
and gave himself to meditation. We infer
from the language and recorded circum-
stances that he had become respondent and
fearful, if not doubtful. He thought of the
dangers that surrounded him, the unfulflled
promise of COP, the circumstances of his
childless condition, and doubtless began to
question how the promise of GoD could be
fulfilled at all, and who should enjoy its full
fllment. But COP who will never permit His
faithfulness to fail, nor fail to sustain those
who trust in Him, came in this emergency to
the rescue of his faith and appeared to him
III u NiSlOus WLlCu may hdNo poOA uAfihOiy
exalted spiritual experience rather than a
dream of the night, described in the highly
dramatic and symbolic style of Oriental lit
erature. His troubled soul was assured that
COP was still his Protector, and would con-
tinue to richly reward his confidence and
obedience, and that son yet to be born
unto him would become the heir of the Di-
vinely promised inheritance. In the vision
COP appeared to lead him out of his tent and
ask him to look up at the clear and cloud
less sky of night, and promised him a pos
terity as innumerable as the host of stars
that twinkled in the heavens. His faith in
the Divine promise was treasured. His
troubled soul found relief. Just how the
promise should be fulfilled he may not have
understood; but that it should be as GoD di-
rected, he was divinely sure.
FAITH.
(6) 1t is declared that Abraham "believed
in JEHOVAH, and He counted it to him for
righteousness. Faith itself is spiritual or
inward righteousness. 1t is the supreme at
tainment of the soul. 1t is the souls appre-
ba1s;on Of Con and snhmission IN Hia will